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Friday, October 21, 2011

Paint Party Friday - An Awful Painting!!

Sometimes no matter what I do nothing seems to work. And I KNOW when that happens that I should just walk away and leave it alone....but this time I didn't. I tried to "force" it and when I do that it never looks good.

Today's painting is a prime example of that! You may remember this disaster of a painting. Later I showed you the same painting after I gessoed over the face.

A couple of days ago I decided to drag her out again and see what would happen. It just went from being very bad to just plain AWFUL!

One of the problems is that I'm "attached" to the background. I know it but I still can't seem to do anything about it.

This is the only part that I really like! The face is horrendous! For some reason she just doesn't want to be here on this canvas. So this painting is going to get gessoed over completely and I'll try something else.

Some days I really question my abilities! I seem to be either "hot" or "cold" when it comes to adding color to faces. I can draw a face, no problem (although you wouldn't know it to look at this one!)....but when it comes to color and shading I'm just not there. I know all the "rules"....I have watched a ton of videos on the subject....but none of it is sinking in to this thick skull of mine.

I'm linking to Paint Party Friday because I think it's important to show when things go really bad. Maybe someone else will benefit from my mistakes. So go take a look at some good paintings over at Paint Party Friday. I'll continue to frustrate myself!

42 comments:

Her face is fine. Because you love the background so much, perhaps that is what the main focus is. If that is the case...you may want to merge the face into it...like a hidden image within the background. I think that your work is lovely.

She is not bad at all, but it probably won't help no matter what I say. I know that feeling and things have to change in ones head before one can see that. Kind of a hidden face sounds exciting to me. Good luck to you, I'm sure you will come up with somthing creative.

Thanks for sharing- your painting is great, much better than I could do! Maybe you could try Indigo's suggestion before you gesso over it, just to see what would happen- it sounds like a cool idea. Keep on sharing and inspiring the rest of us!

Janet, I could have written this post. Take a look at my face and you will know what I mean. Your background is truly magnificent. Your face is nice, not awful. I also can draw faces but I have trouble with doing the shading. Don't gesso over this. Faye

Ha Ha, we all have disasters and many of them, well I do......lolThis isn't as bad as you think it is. Perhaps if you blended her more into the background you would be happier with it. Happy PPF, Annette x

Janet, I think she's lovely but I understand how difficult it is when it doesn't look how you want! I think Creality has struck again!! LOL... it will be fun to see what comes next. Keep going... best, tj

She is real! Not everyone is a 10..I love her eyes, so I go along with maybe shading over the lower half of her, or maybe a veil???Well at least play around with it before you completely cover it, and I think the background is worth saving.

Janet, I agree with the others. The face you have is fighting the background. On it's own it would be most interesting, but because it's bolder than the background, the eye doesn't know where to look.Try what Indigo said and merge the face into your background. Her features and hair need to be subdued. You might like the results!Hugs,Janet

Of course I don't think she is as bad as you think. I do have the same issues as you so I know where you are coming from. Its all about shading for me. Adding those shadows on the nose and eyelids is always difficult for me too. Sometimes we just have to give up and move on to something new. If you are covering up that background take pictures of it or scan it if you have a scanner. It can be used in other pieces. I have that issue with backgrounds sometimes too. They are often so pretty we get stuck on what to do with them. You also might just let her sit for awhile and it will come to you what you can do.

I kind of like the background... and I understand your frustrations, we have all been there. Thanks for sharing it and being honest about the process... I think it will end up being wonderful and I can't wait to see how you resolve it -happy ppf xx

I love the background. I would try to work with what you have, and maybe go crazy and paint her face purple, and just play and see what happens. If you really don't like it, I would just gesso over the left and just start playing. The background if FANTASTIC! Sorry you don't like it, but don't give up. Maybe walk away for a couple of days first! Best of luck!!! And it's totally ok to not like a piece.

i love, love, love the right side. and i like the girl, too. is it possible that it's just a balance issue from right to left side? i think the right side is so beautiful that it doesn't look like background... it stands on it's own, but it's more delicate than the beautiful boldness of the girl. i think you just have two lovely pieces rolled into one! :-)

I tend to agree that her face is wonderful; background is wonderful and maybe you could somehow blend more of the background into her face so that the focus is more subtlely on the background ~ You need to do what works for you ~thanks, namaste, Carol (Share the Creative Journey)

Hi Janet...we are own worst critic. She is fine but I know what you mean about not liking something you do. If I hate it enough, I'll end up painting over it or part of it. I hope you are having a great weekend and I hope this comment goes through the first time.Mary

The great thing is Janet, that you don't give up but keep trying until you, yourself, are happy. That's what counts. As for shading, maybe try to think of it this way. Imagine which direction the light source is coming from, and shade... (blend so there is no demarkation line)... the opposite side. Left or right, up or down, it's all the same. Everything that is not flat will create a shadow, concave a little darker than convex. I admire your determination. Wish I had it! As always, I like your art and this background is especially beautiful. xoxo

Because you have a vision of what you want her to look like, you say you're not happy with her, but in all honesty, I like her look and those full lips and bright colors work with the light blue background. Like you, I like the design. It's just beautiful.

But look at those perfectly pouty lips!! I love the background too - and know that your painting is just on it's way to becoming what it is meant to be . . . I love being a part of the progress too - thanks for sharing her along the way, xoxo

Well we all have paintings that just don't go right and I love that you had the courage to show yours! You know the Master painters painted a lot of crap we never saw, we get the amazing 1% that are incredible. Thanks for sharing and that was a really great background!

I don't think it's as bad as you think it is but you make me chuckle with this post and I love your showing something you're not satisfied with! It's courageous! Well, if you can't fix, paint over the part you don't like! That's why they invented gesso!

Oh my, don't be so hard on yourself. I didn't really like my PPF entry either, and had already gessoed over it once, but posted it anyway. I appreciate the support of other artists and feel that helps me along my journey. I like her, and you are right, the background is so pretty...love the colors! My first instinct would be to change her hair to a lighter color so she blends in more with your beautiful background...just enjoy the process! Thank you for your kind words at my blog. :-)

You are so hard on yourself....I think you have done better, but she is how you painted on this day. Each day brings something special, and she is special too. I have never painted a face, I think they are all wonderful, you know this. I hope you are having a wonderful Tuesday...I am working on Ancestry, it is fun, but even that can be great one day and not the next. I love you, Mary

i like evrything the color and the face and adoooore all the stencil work for surei noticed you have the banner for layered impressions with Katie Kendrck, are you taking that clas? how do you like it?i love her faces tooi can't wait for her book

I can see why you are attached to the background, it is gorgeous Janet. I think if you softened her she might go with the soft colours in the background, or then again if she really doesn't want to be there...... Thanks for showing us your paintings that you are not happy with, makes me feel OK if I have what I consider a disaster.Lee:)

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About Me

I’m 71 years young and doing what I love to do…making ART! Other than online classes I'm completely self-taught. I enjoy taking online classes and workshops and I continue to learn new techniques. I hope you enjoy what I create and will stop in often.

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